# 3.2 Relative velocity in two dimensions  (Page 3/3)

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$\begin{array}{l}⇒{\mathbf{v}}_{C}={\mathbf{v}}_{B}+{\mathbf{v}}_{CB}\\ ⇒{\mathbf{v}}_{CB}={\mathbf{v}}_{C}-{\mathbf{v}}_{B}\end{array}$

This is an important relation. As a matter of fact, we shall require this form of equation most of the time, while working with problems in relative motion. This equation can be used effectively to determine relative velocity of two moving objects with uniform velocity (C and B), when their velocities in Earth’s reference are known.

Note : As in the case of one dimensional case, we can have a working methodology to find the relative velocity in two dimensions. In brief, we drop the reference to ground all together. We simply draw two velocities as given ${\mathbf{v}}_{A}$ , ${\mathbf{v}}_{B}$ . Then, we reverse the direction of reference velocity ${\mathbf{v}}_{B}$ and find the resultant relative velocity, ${\mathbf{v}}_{AB}={\mathbf{v}}_{A}-{\mathbf{v}}_{B}$ , applying parallelogram theorem or using algebraic method involving unit vectors.

In general, for any two objects “A” and “B”, moving with constant velocities,

$\begin{array}{l}⇒{\mathbf{v}}_{AB}={\mathbf{v}}_{A}-{\mathbf{v}}_{B}\end{array}$

Problem : A person is driving a car towards east at a speed of 80 km/hr. A train appears to move towards north with a velocity of 80√3 km/hr to the person driving the car. Find the speed of the train as measured with respect to earth.

Solution : Let us first identify the car and train as “A” and “B”. Here, we are provided with the speed of car (“A”) with respect to Earth i.e. " ${v}_{A}$ " and speed of train (“B”) with respect to “A” i.e ${v}_{\mathrm{BA}}$ .

$\begin{array}{l}{v}_{A}=80\phantom{\rule{2pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{hr}\\ {v}_{BA}=80\surd 3\phantom{\rule{2pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{hr}\end{array}$

We are required to find the speed of train (“B”) with respect to Earth i.e. ${\mathbf{v}}_{B}$ , . Fromequation of relative motion, we have :

$\begin{array}{l}{\mathbf{v}}_{BA}={\mathbf{v}}_{B}-{\mathbf{v}}_{A}\\ ⇒{\mathbf{v}}_{B}={\mathbf{v}}_{BA}+{\mathbf{v}}_{A}\end{array}$

To evaluate the right hand side of the equation, we draw vectors “ ${\mathbf{v}}_{BA}$ ” and “ ${\mathbf{v}}_{A}$ ” and use parallelogram law to find the actual speed of the train.

$\begin{array}{l}⇒{v}_{B}=\surd \left({{v}_{BA}}^{2}+{{v}_{A}}^{2}\right)=\surd \left\{{\left(80\surd 3\right)}^{2}+{80}^{2}\right\}=160\phantom{\rule{2pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{hr}\end{array}$

## Evaluation of equation using analytical technique

We have already used analytical method to evaluate vector equation of relative velocity. Analytical method makes use of Pythagoras or Parallelogram theorem to determine velocities.

Analytical method, however, is not limited to making use of Pythagoras or Parallelogram theorem. Depending on situation, we may use simple trigonometric relation as well to evaluate equation of relative motion in two dimensions. Let us work out an exercise to emphasize application of such geometric (trigonometric) analytical technique.

Problem : A person, standing on the road, holds his umbrella to his back at an angle 30° with the vertical to protect himself from rain. He starts running at a speed of 10 m/s along a straight line. He finds that he now has to hold his umbrella vertically to protect himself from the rain. Find the speed of raindrops as measured with respect to (i) ground and (ii) the moving person.

Solution : Let us first examine the inputs available in this problem. To do this let us first identify different entities with symbols. Let A and B denote the person and the rain respectively. The initial condition of the person gives the information about the direction of rain with respect to ground - notably not the speed with which rain falls. It means that we know the direction of velocity ${\mathbf{v}}_{B}$ . The subsequent condition, when person starts moving, tells us the velocity of the person “A” with respect to ground i.e ${\mathbf{v}}_{A}$ . Also, it is given that the direction of relative velocity of rain “B” with respect to the moving person “A” is vertical i.e. we know the direction of relative velocity ${\mathbf{v}}_{BA}$ .

We draw three vectors involved in the problem as shown in the figure. OP represents ${\mathbf{v}}_{A}$ ; OQ represents ${\mathbf{v}}_{B}$ ; OR represents ${\mathbf{v}}_{BA}$ .

In ΔOCB,

$\begin{array}{l}{v}_{B}=\mathrm{OR}=\frac{\mathrm{QR}}{\mathrm{sin}{30}^{0}}\\ ⇒{v}_{B}=\frac{10}{\frac{1}{2}}=20\phantom{\rule{2pt}{0ex}}m/s\end{array}$

and

$\begin{array}{l}{v}_{BA}=\mathrm{OQ}=\frac{\mathrm{QR}}{\mathrm{tan}{30}^{0}}\\ ⇒{v}_{BA}=\frac{10}{\frac{1}{\surd 3}}=10\surd 3\phantom{\rule{2pt}{0ex}}m/s\end{array}$

## Equation in component form

So far we have used analytical method to evaluate vector equation of relative velocity. It is evident that vector equation also renders to component form – particularly when inputs are given in component form along with unit vectors.

Here, we shall highlight one very important aspect of component analysis, which helps us to analyze complex problems. The underlying concept is that consideration of motion in mutually perpendicular direction is independent of each other. This aspect of independence is emphasized in analyzing projectile motion, where motions in vertical and horizontal directions are found to be independent of each other (it is an experimental fact).

We work out the exercise to illustrate the application of the technique, involving component analysis.

Problem : Three particles A,B and C situated at the vertices of an equilateral triangle starts moving simultaneously at a constant speed “v” in the direction of adjacent particle, which falls ahead in the anti-clockwise direction. If “a” be the side of the triangle, then find the time when they meet.

Solution : Here, particle “A” follows “B”, “B” follows “C” and “C” follows “A”. The direction of motion of each particle keeps changing as motion of each particle is always directed towards other particle. The situation after a time “t” is shown in the figure with a possible outline of path followed by the particles before they meet.

This problem appears to be complex as the path of motion is difficult to be defined. But, it has a simple solution in component analysis. Let us consider the pair “A” and “B”. The initial component of velocities in the direction of line joining the initial position of the two particles is “v” and “vcosθ” as shown in the figure here :

The component velocities are directed towards eachother. Now, considering the linear (one dimensional) motion in the direction of AB, the relative velocity of “A” with respect to “B” is :

$\begin{array}{l}{v}_{AB}={v}_{A}-{v}_{B}\\ {v}_{AB}=v-\left(-v\mathrm{cos}\theta \right)=v+v\mathrm{cos}\theta \end{array}$

In equilateral triangle, θ = 60°,

$\begin{array}{l}{v}_{AB}=v+v\mathrm{cos}{60}^{0}=v+\frac{v}{2}=\frac{3v}{2}\end{array}$

The time taken to cover the displacement “a” i..e. the side of the triangle,

$\begin{array}{l}t=\frac{2a}{3v}\end{array}$

Check the module titled Relative velocity in two dimensions (application) to test your understanding of the topics covered in this module.

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